Man recovering after accident

Steamboat Springs  A Steamboat Springs man whose pickup was struck by a train Friday as he tried to traverse a railroad crossing in his pickup is doing well, a family friend said Tuesday.

Jane Groggan said Glenn Barber, 66, has been "making good improvements" since Friday's accident and that Barber is recovering nicely.

Barber was driving his 1966 Chevrolet pickup truck at about 7 a.m. Friday when it was struck by an empty Union Pacific coal train near the Saddle Mountain Ranch railroad crossing west of Steamboat Springs, Colorado State Patrol Trooper Tonya Cowan said Satur--day.

Cowan said Bar----ber was inching toward the tracks when the westbound train hit the vehicle's driver side, sending Barber down an embankment and into a sign, which caused the truck to roll.

Barber was airlifted to Poudre Valley Memorial Hospital in Fort Collins to be treated for several broken bones and other injuries, Cowan said.

Groggan said both of Bar--ber's lungs collapsed during the accident and that he broke several ribs and a shoulder and sustained many cuts to his face.

Groggan said Barber was still in the intensive care unit Monday, but that doctors took him off the respirator that was helping Barber breathe.

"That was really good news, although it's still a little difficult for him to breathe," she said. "Speaking is obviously difficult, but he's becoming more responsive as the days go on."

Barber appreciates the com--munity's support but isn't receiving visitors because he needs the time and space to heal, Groggan said.

"He looks forward to being back home and appreciates all the people who have stepped up to do his ranching chores," she said.